View Full Version : Laura Halldorson resigns.
JohnN
08-10-2007, 08:21 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2969123
kylehockey
08-10-2007, 09:02 PM
be interesting to see the trickle down effet on this one in the top colleges.
be interesting to see the trickle down effet on this one in the top colleges.Does that mean that you expect a coach from another program to get the Gopher job, with a domino effect to follow? Personally, I don't see that happening. I expect Brad Frost to get the job on a permanent basis for several reasons, including:
Frost has been at Minnesota for almost 7 seasons;
unlike some assistants, he already had a major role with the team's preparation on the ice;
the promotion to associate head coach a year ago indicates a recognition of his abilities by the department and a desire to retain him;
Minnesota has a high impact class recruited for 08-09 and he was instrumental in their recruitment;
I think he's going to do an excellent job.
I've been wrong before -- I really hope that I'm not in this case.
Does that mean that you expect a coach from another program to get the Gopher job, with a domino effect to follow? Personally, I don't see that happening. I expect Brad Frost to get the job on a permanent basis for several reasons, including:
Frost has been at Minnesota for almost 7 seasons;
unlike some assistants, he already had a major role with the team's preparation on the ice;
the promotion to associate head coach a year ago indicates a recognition of his abilities by the department and a desire to retain him;
Minnesota has a high impact class recruited for 08-09 and he was instrumental in their recruitment;
I think he's going to do an excellent job.
I've been wrong before -- I really hope that I'm not in this case.
I agree, Brad has been the recognizable face of the Gophers for anyone outside of the program; particularly, from a recruiting standpoint. For continuity, it would make sense.
kylehockey
08-11-2007, 07:28 PM
not saying that the assistant doesn;t deserve it or isn't the right choice but with a program like minnesota why wouldn't the administration open it up nation wide? If he is the best candidate, it will be clear with the interview process. Women's hockey may begin to mirror other major college sports in that there a clear trickle down effect when a coach leaves a major program.
brookyone
08-11-2007, 07:55 PM
not saying that the assistant doesn;t deserve it or isn't the right choice but with a program like minnesota why wouldn't the administration open it up nation wide? If he is the best candidate, it will be clear with the interview process. Women's hockey may begin to mirror other major college sports in that there a clear trickle down effect when a coach leaves a major program.
Do we know that the post 2007-2008 season search for a permanent replacement as was mentioned by AD Joel Maturi will not be open to anyone / everyone interested in the position?
I'll add I'm on board for Brad Frost as the one to take over for Laura in a permanent capacity. I agree with ARM regarding his obvious attributes, as well as the continuity factor mentioned by ghr...continuity and it's associated benefits per program stability / tradition are quite significant in my mind. Bottom line for me, I'd be very happy to see Brad get the nod when that time comes. Toss in an additional high quality assistant from a pool of good candidates...It takes a solid staff to do the job well obviously.
Still, when the search happens I'd guess there will be a considerable amount of interest from a number of individuals...it's a pretty good gig as women's D-I hockey head coaching goes. I hope, and believe Mr. Maturi will give Brad strong consideration at that time.
mnhock
08-11-2007, 08:23 PM
As far as assistants go, I'm not sure why everybody thinks it has to be a former GWH player?? Are there any out there who have college
coaching/recruiting experience? Don't say Winny, or Darwitz or Wendell, because none of them do. Laura had when she arrived, Frost had it and Slomo had it. I just think anyone who is going to be on the staff of a top collegiate program should have prior experience.
There will be a national search for both a head coach and assistant(s) in the spring of 08'.
brookyone
08-11-2007, 10:44 PM
As far as assistants go, I'm not sure why everybody thinks it has to be a former GWH player??
I don't. That's what I was hinting at, or attempting to when I posted I didn't know if they would limit their search to that candidate pool exclusively...or something like that. Probably no one actually thinks it has to be a former GWH player though.
At the same time I do believe some former GWH players could do the job and would be assets to the Gopher program...including a player or two that have been mentioned. Long time to speculate on this one.
I'm also with coach Frost regarding currently focusing on the coming season. Let's hope the recent developments do not distract from the task at hand.
I like the expressed mind set of the team.
As far as assistants go, I'm not sure why everybody thinks it has to be a former GWH player?? Are there any out there who have college coaching/recruiting experience? Don't say Winny, or Darwitz or Wendell, because none of them do. Laura had when she arrived, Frost had it and Slomo had it. I just think anyone who is going to be on the staff of a top collegiate program should have prior experience.The two former Gopher players who I've most often seen at HS games over the years are Slomo and Kris Scholz. I'm not sure if a lot of recruiting experience is a must for a 2nd assistant on this staff. I'd say most important in the area of recruiting is an ability/aptitude to judge talent, because they will probably do a lot of scouting. So I'd trust that somebody like Darwitz could go watch HS games and form opinions pretty quickly about who does/doesn't have a game that would carry over well to the next level.
Another factor in recruiting, and probably in coaching as well, is personality -- is someone likeable. Will recruits meet them and think, "I'd like having this coach on staff." Obviously, this is a plus for current players as well. All else being equal, a person is more likely to work hard for a coach, teacher, or boss whom they like.
Skate79
08-12-2007, 07:51 PM
be interesting to see the trickle down effet on this one in the top colleges.
This appears to be an isolated case of a coach who wants to spend more time with her family. I don't think you can necessarily expect a "ripple" effect or "trickle" down from this decision because we won't know until next year who gets the job unless Frost is named the permanant HC during the season. And even if the new coach is a "name" coach such as Katey Stone or Digit Murphy, that does not imply that a whole slew of coaches will be leaving their jobs to take the vacated head job of the coach who replaces so and so who replaces so and so, and so forth...it could just be an assistant from someone's staff such as Claudia Asano taking the Union job for instance.
As a UMD fan, the only thing that changes will be that I'll be watching to see what kind of change if any it has on their rivalries, not just up north here but within the rest of the WCHA. Will their players come with a 'Win it for Halldorson' attittude or may the older players be a little shellshocked? I think it'll be well worth paying attention to, though I do hope they still maintain a high level. No matter who wins the NCAA Championship it needs to stay in the WCHA :D :D :D :D :D
Travelingman
08-14-2007, 08:10 AM
This appears to be an isolated case of a coach who wants to spend more time with her family. I don't think you can necessarily expect a "ripple" effect or "trickle" down from this decision because we won't know until next year who gets the job unless Frost is named the permanant HC during the season. And even if the new coach is a "name" coach such as Katey Stone or Digit Murphy, that does not imply that a whole slew of coaches will be leaving their jobs to take the vacated head job of the coach who replaces so and so who replaces so and so, and so forth...it could just be an assistant from someone's staff such as Claudia Asano taking the Union job for instance.
How many D1 WOMEN coaches are there that are married/or not but with a family to raise? Not many.
It must be very demanding with the schedule and there must be a very strong support system at home. There has to be a time where you go through guilt over time spent with the kids, etc. Being on the road for long periods of time as a dad brings a certain level of guilt about time spent with the kids, but with your wife home when the kids are home you deal with it because you have to pay the bills. But with woman it is different. Being a mom comes first before everything.
It seems more and more over the past 3-4 years that coaches are spending more time over the summer months to get their recruits in place, run their camps, and are participating in USA hockey events. That leaves less and less time at home in the summer months when the kids are home.
binnyrus
08-14-2007, 08:16 AM
Is Halldorson married? Does she have children of her own??
Travelingman
08-14-2007, 08:20 AM
[I]Is[I] Halldorson married? Does she have children of her own??
I am assuming when you make a statement that says you want to spend more time with your family it means your children. :confused: (if that is not the case than my previous post means nothing) She was quoted as saying that after attending the funeral of a friend in the morning and then seeing the bridge collapse it made her believe that god had a different plan for her. "I spend an awful lot of time away from my family, I want to spend more time with my family and friends."
I assumed she had children when making that statement. If that is not the case then the God thing would have been enough for me.
binnyrus
08-14-2007, 08:36 AM
If that is not the case then the God thing would have been enough for me.
Well said. I thought the timing of the resignation was a bit odd . . . and not having followed the thread seeing the quote about the bridge collapse and her reaction to it puts some context to the issue. I think that makes a lot of sense - catastrophe's tend to have that kind of impact.
The questions about being married and/or having children isn't pertinent to the discussion. I'm only wondering because I've never heard it.
How many D1 WOMEN coaches are there that are married/or not but with a family to raise? Not many.Digit Murphy is the only one that I know of off the top of my head that has children. Kerry Brodt Wethington had I believe one child while she still coached at St. Cloud, but resigned around the time that the second arrived. Raising children is tough on any working mother, and the coaching profession has times that just aren't that flexible. I'm sure that there are or have been others, but I don't personally know all the coaches like some on this board do. Right now, I believe that there are less female (head) coaches than there were a few years ago.
Coach Halldorson did mention people like her grandmother and mother as those she'd like to be able to spend more time with. I'd encourage anyone to ensure that they have time available in their life for those who matter most to them.
brookyone
08-14-2007, 05:28 PM
As a UMD fan, the only thing that changes will be that I'll be watching to see what kind of change if any it has on their rivalries, not just up north here but within the rest of the WCHA.
Myself, I don't see the coaching change as having any impact, or lessening the existing rivalries in any way. Those rivalries seem a given, or automatic among the Minnesota based programs...also an element of carry over or continuation of traditional rivalries from the men's WCHA I think...regardless of coaches. Then you have the Big 10 thing between the U, UW & OSU battling in all varsity sports...which is why I wouldn't want to trade OSU for Wayne State as discussed in theory in another thread.
As a Minnesota fan, what I'm watching to see is what coach do UMD fans take their shots at now? :confused:
...and yes, it is something of a stretch to say...or phrase it as "battling in all varsity sports" where Minnesota is concerned...lately. :(
RStarr
08-14-2007, 09:54 PM
Hail to Halldorson (http://slog.cstv.com/rinkrat/2007/08/hail_to_halldorson.html) :cool:
binnyrus
08-15-2007, 10:11 AM
As a Minnesota fan, what I'm watching to see is what coach do UMD fans take their shots at now? :confused:
Too easy . . . the Minnesota coach!
bnDave
08-15-2007, 07:31 PM
No matter who wins the NCAA Championship it needs to stay in the WCHA :D :D :D :D :D
I don't think you'll have to worry too much about that as long as Mark Johnson stays in Madison, but then I'm (more than) a little prejudiced. :D :D :D :D :D
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